Dehydrating oils



Sept. 26, 1933. w. H. ELLIOTT DEHYDRATING OILS Filed Jan. 50, 1929 www 5%@ /md EN@ www@ Patented Sept. 26, 1933 l Y Y l UNIT-rn smiles PATENT orric-E 1,928,232V DEHYDRATING orLs Walton H. Elliott, New York,'N. Y., assignor to The Texas Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application .l'anuary 30, 1929.` Serial No. 336,070 i v1v Claim. (Cl. 196--5)` Thisfinvention relates to a process of dehynection `withY the apparatus shown in the drawdrating oils. y ing may be as follows2 A Stated `broadly the invention l contemplates a The emulsion from the tank 11, which maybe process for separating and resolvingV emulsions practically any type of oiland water emulsion, is

5 of oil and water by a procedure involving heatforcedby means of the pump 14 through the line 60 ing the emulsion to a temperature in excess of `12, through the heat exchangers 15a, 15b, 15e, the boiling point of water and then settlingthe andinto theheating coil 16 heated by ,the furheated mass, allowing stratication of the sep- Vnace 1'7. Herein the emulsion is heated toa suitarated oil and water to take'place. The heated ablerternperature, vwhich maybe, for example, in

`10 emulsion lmay be maintained-under superatmostheY neighborhood of 400"` F. A suitable pressure, 65

vplfleric pressure while the settling takes place. for example about 250 lbs. per square inch, is The invention may be readily understood from maintained in the coil to prevent substantial vaa description of the process consideredrin conporization. l

nection with the single gure of the accompany- Passing from the heating coil v16, Vthe heated :l5 ing drawing, which represents diagrainmatically emulsion-is directed through line 18 to the set- 7g apparatus adapted for use in connection with the tling vessels19a, 191), etc. The valved connections operation ofthe process. y to the Vessels areso arranged that they may be .Y Referring to the drawing, there provided a cut Aoff from communication with each other, sourcelof supply of the emulsion to be treated, boththrough the charging line and through .the

.20 such as the tank 11, to which is attached the drawo line, andrin carryingon the process inra 75 line 12, fitted with a valve 13, and connecting continuous manner the settling vessels may be with the charging pump 14. The line 12 excharged or filled with the heated emulsion contends through the heat exchangers 15a, 15b and secutively. For example, the vessel 19a may nrst 15e, the purpose of which will be described herebe charged, the valves in the lower drawoii con- 425 inafter, and continues to the heating coil 16, nections being closed and the vent connection 22a gg which is positioned within a suitable furnaceV 17. partly open to allow displacement of air.V When The line 18 leading from'the heating coil 16 is the Vessel has become substantially lled with the Y manifolded at suitable points to connect with the charge, the vent 22a may be closed, the valve 21a settling vessels 19a, 19h, to 19h, by means of the closed and the valve 2lb opened, thereby di- 130 connecting lines 20a, 29h, J0020.11, which are ntverting the charge of heated emulsion into the e5 ted with valves 21a,r21b, to 21h, as shown. vessel 19h. This procedure may be followed The settlingV vessels 19a, 19h, etc. may be inthroughout the'series of settling vessels, and the sulated and are fitted with 'suitable vent Yconheated emulsion is allowed to build up a pressure nections 22a, 22h, etc. at their upper ends. At Within the SBling VeSSelS Which Will depend 435 the lower ends of each of the vessels 19a, 191), Somewhat upon the temperature maintained 9c etc., three drawoii connections are provided; the therein, but preferably Will be Sllfieni t0 Drelines 23a, 23h, etc., connecting with the inani- Vent boiling 0f the COIltentS.

fold lineZl, which is'in turnconnected to the As each settling vessel 19 is Afilled it is cut off heat exchanger 15e; the lines 25a, 25h, etc., which from Communication with the rest 0f the appa- `4.0 are connected@ the manifold 1in@ 25, which is ratus and the contents of the Vessel thus may be 95 in turn connected to the heat exchanger 15b and maintained Undef eleVa'eCl temperature and DleS thence to the line 27, leading to the storage tank Sllre in a qulesfint .Staley during Which time Seli- 28; the lines 29a 291)y etch connected to the mam tling and stratification of the oil and water takes ifold line 30, which in turn connects to the heat place' The lume Ofstmg requlred may lf'ary r exchanger 15a. The line 31 leading from the lcrlndlewlaaglhulem peslf emulsols 100 v er r l or inari y wi amount o t2 It th the valve 34 t The Var tus be designed in suchmanner that the capacity 21nd 31 and 1S ttef W1 L of the heating coil and of the settling vessels will 50 rious connecting lines arentted with suitable be so related as to afford Continuous Operationqm Valves S Shown; thus the lines 231123@ et@- afe of the C011 while the various individual settling fitted with valves 35a, 35h etc. lthe lines 25a, 25D vessels are going through the cycle of charging, etc. with valves 36a, 361) etc., and the lines 29a,v Settling and discharging 29D etc. with valves 37a, 37b etc. Y After settling of the heated emulsion has taken f55 The operation of the process carried on in conplace for the required length of time, stratica- 110 tion willhave taken. place in the vessel, usually with the production of an upper layer of substantially moisture-free oil,a lower layer of Water and an intermediate layer of unseparated emulsion. The quantity` of the unseparated emulsion will vary with the time of settling and with the more or less `refractory nature of the emulsion. The lower layer consisting of water may be withdrawn from each individual settling vessel, as for example 19a, through its corresponding connection 23a, by the opening ofthe valve 35a. The hot Water thus passes ,through the manifold line 24 and the heat exchanger 15e in heat exchange relation with the incoming cold charge to which it gives up a'large portion of its heat. Thereafter the water may be discarded.

After the discharge of the lower water layer,

there remain only two layers in the Vessel 19a,

etc., the lower of which is the unseparated'portion of the emulsion. The valve 3501.y mayV now be closed and the valve 37a'opened, thusrper'mitting the layer'of emulsion to be drawn oi through the line 29a, to the manifold line 30, thence through the heat exchanger llcgwhere a large portion of its heat is transferred to the incoming cool charge, and-then'to the storage tank 32. If' de- Yvessel, 19a, thereremains only theV separated oil,

which may be drawnl off through the line 25a by closingthe valve 35d and 37a and opening the Valve 36a. The hot oil passes through the manifold line 26 and the heat yexchanger 15b, wherein zone.-

it gives up a portion of its heat to the incoming charge, and thence to the storage tank 29, wherein it is stored for future disposition. Y

Under certain conditions it has been found that a reduction in temperature and pressure in the settling vessels 19 may aid in breaking refractory emulsions. For-example, the emulsion may be introduced into thesettling vesselat a temperature o f `1:00o F. and at a pressure of 250 lbs. per square' inch. Upon being allowed to cool, the pressure will drop rapidly, andk upon reaching a temperature below the boiling point of water, the

' pressure may be reduced below atmospheric. The

ving may be applied by other suitable means.

Obviously many modifications and Variationsl of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, only' such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim. v v

What I claim is: Y

The method of breaking an emulsion of hydrocarbon oils and water which comprises heating theremulsion under superatmospheric pressure, introducing the heated emulsion under pressure toa closed settling zone, applying cooling to said zonewhereby a reduction in temperature and pressure is effected, said pressure being reduced below atmospheric, and thereafter withdrawing separately layers of oil and water formedin said ico WALTON I-I. ELLIOTT. r n

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